New Forest

New Forest's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 180,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of New Forest increased by 4.2%, from just over 169,000 to 176,000.

The addition of about 7,100 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, New Forest was home to, on average, 1.7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older New Forest

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of New Forest increased by three years, from 44 to 47 years.

This coastal area had the second-highest average age in the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 6,300 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 5,000.

About 15% of people in New Forest are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and New Forest by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in New Forest

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in New Forest, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In New Forest, the proportion of single people increased from 22% in 2001 to 25% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 32%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in New Forest fell from 58% to 55%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in New Forest

New Forest saw the South East's joint third-largest fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability, alongside Fareham. The largest fall was seen in Gosport

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (88%) in New Forest reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 90% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.9% to 3.7%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in New Forest

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 26% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 26% in 2001

The number of people in New Forest that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 24,000 in 2001 to just over 45,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 26% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in New Forest that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 130,000 in 2001 to about 120,000 in 2011 (from 78% to 65%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 12,000 to about 14,000 (from 6.9% to 7.8%).

About 910 people (0.3%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 530 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population without a religion in New Forest increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and New Forest by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in New Forest

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 98% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 98% in 2001

The number of people in New Forest from the White ethnic groups remained close to about 170,000 between the last two censuses. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in New Forest from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 700 in 2001 to just under 1,700 in 2011 (from 0.4% to 0.9%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 840 to about 1,600 (from 0.5% to 0.9%).

Just over 610 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 190 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in New Forest decreased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and New Forest by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in New Forest that rented privately increased from 7.2% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in nine (11%) households lived in social housing, compared with 10% in 2001. The percentage of New Forest households that owned their home decreased from 80% to 75%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in New Forest increased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in New Forest, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in New Forest working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in New Forest decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in New Forest, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of New Forest residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.6% to 4.9% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of New Forest residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in New Forest decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in New Forest, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households in New Forest without children increased from 65% to 66% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in four (25%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 26% in 2001. The percentage of households in New Forest with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.8% to 9.1%.

The proportion of households without children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 62%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of households in New Forest, which comprised one person, increased from 28% to 29% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 12 (8.1%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 7.1% in 2001. The percentage of households in New Forest which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 39% to 36%.

The proportion of one-person households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of New Forest residents that were unemployed increased from 1.9% to 2.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 52%, while the percentage of New Forest residents that were self-employed increased from 10% to 12%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of New Forest residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.9% to 2.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in New Forest remained close to 2.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and New Forest by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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